The three ways to add someone on Steam

You can add someone to your Steam friends list in three ways: search for them by their username or display name, use their friend code, or accept a friend request they send you. The search method works if you know their account name. The friend code method works if they give you a unique code. The request method is the simplest if they reach out first.

All three methods put that person on your friends list, which lets you see when they are online, what game they are playing, and send them messages. You control whether they can see the same information about you through your privacy settings.

Key Takeaways

  • You can add friends by searching their username, using their friend code, or accepting their request — each method takes less than a minute.
  • Your privacy settings control what friends can see about you, including your online status, game activity, and profile details.
  • A friend code is a unique link that someone can share with you instead of their username, useful if their name is hard to spell or already taken by someone else.
  • You can remove someone from your friends list at any time, and they will not be notified unless they check your profile.

Adding someone by searching their username

Open Steam and click your username in the top right corner, then select "Friends" from the menu. At the top of the Friends window, you will see a text box that says "Search for a friend to add". Type the person's username or display name and press Enter. Steam will show you a list of accounts that match what you typed.

Click on the account you want to add. Their profile will open. On the right side of their profile, you will see a button that says "Add Friend". Click it. Steam will send them a friend request, and they will see it the next time they log in. Once they accept, you are both on each other's friends list.

If you search for someone and do not see them in the results, their profile may be set to private, or their username may be spelled differently than you think. Ask them to send you their friend code instead, which is more reliable.

Using a friend code to add someone

A friend code is a unique link that Steam generates for each account. It looks like a long string of numbers and letters. If someone gives you their friend code, you can paste it directly into your browser or click it in a chat message, and it will open their profile with an "Add Friend" button ready to click.

To get your own friend code and share it with others, open Steam, click your username in the top right, and select "Friends". In the Friends window, look for your own profile name on the left side and right-click it. A menu will appear with an option to "Copy Friend Code". You can now paste this code anywhere — in a text message, email, or game chat — and anyone who clicks it can add you without having to search for your username.

Accepting a friend request

When someone sends you a friend request, you will see a notification in Steam the next time you log in. Click on the notification or go to your Friends window and look for the "Pending" tab at the top. You will see a list of people who have sent you requests.

Click on a person's name to view their profile. If you want to add them, click "Accept". If you do not want to add them, click "Decline". You can also ignore the request and deal with it later — it will stay in your Pending list until you accept or decline it.

Controlling what your friends can see about you

By default, your friends can see when you are online, what game you are playing, and details on your profile. If you want to change this, open Steam, click your username in the top right, and select "Settings". Click "Privacy" on the left side. You will see options for "Game Details", "Online Status", and "Profile Visibility".

For each setting, you can choose "Public" (everyone can see it), "Friends Only" (only your friends can see it), or "Private" (no one can see it). These settings explore to all your friends at once — you cannot hide information from one friend while showing it to another. If you want to keep your activity private from someone specific, you will need to remove them from your friends list.

Removing someone from your friends list

Open your Friends window, find the person you want to remove, right-click their name, and select "Remove Friend". They will be removed from your friends list when ready. They will not receive a notification that you removed them, but if they check your profile, they will see that you are no longer friends.

If you remove someone and later want to add them back, you can search for them again or ask them to send you a new friend code. There is no penalty for removing and re-adding people.

Troubleshooting common problems

If you search for someone and cannot find them, their profile may be set to private, or they may have changed their username recently. Ask them directly for their friend code — this is the most reliable way to connect. If they give you a friend code and it does not work, make sure you are pasting the entire code without extra spaces.

If someone sends you a friend request and you do not see it, check your Pending tab in the Friends window. Requests stay there until you accept or decline them. If you still cannot find it, ask the person to send you their friend code instead and add them that way.

If you want to add someone but they have set their profile to private, you cannot see their profile or send them a request through search. They will need to send you a friend request first, or give you their friend code so you can add them directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add someone if I do not know their exact username?

Steam's search will show you accounts that match what you type, even if it is not exact. If you cannot find them that way, ask them for their friend code instead. A friend code is a unique link that works even if you do not know their username.

What happens when I send a friend request?

The person will see your request in their Pending tab the next time they log in. They can accept it to add you, or decline it to reject the request. Until they respond, you are not on each other's friends list yet.

Can I see what games my friends are playing?

Yes, if your privacy settings allow it and theirs do too. By default, friends can see what game you are playing. You can change this in Settings > Privacy > Game Details and set it to "Private" if you do not want anyone to see what you are playing.

What is a friend code and why would I use one?

A friend code is a unique link that Steam creates for your account. It is useful if your username is hard to spell, already taken by someone else, or if you want to share a link instead of typing your name. Anyone who clicks your friend code can add you directly.

Do people get notified when I remove them from my friends list?

No, they do not receive a notification. However, if they visit your profile, they will see that you are no longer friends. You can add them back at any time if you change your mind.